The Penguin’s Deirdre O’Connell tells us which fictional mom inspired her as Oz’s mother Francis
As a gamer who has spent countless hours immersed in the dark and complex world of Gotham City, I must say that HBO’s The Penguin has been a fascinating journey. The character development of Oz Cobbs, played masterfully by Colin Farrell, is nothing short of exceptional, with his mother Francis (Deirdre O’Connell) adding layers to the narrative that make Oz’s transformation from a timid accountant to a ruthless crime boss all the more intriguing.
Progressing steadily towards the conclusion of HBO’s limited series spinoff, “The Penguin,” linked to Matt Reeves’ “The Batman.” With each episode, we uncover more about Gotham’s criminal underworld and its villainous denizens, while simultaneously exploring the intricate supporting characters that influence our main protagonists. One such character is Oz Cobb, portrayed by Colin Farrell, whose complexity makes him captivating. He’s not just ruthless and cunning; he’s also awkward, insecure, and relies on reassurance from his mother, Francis (Deirdre O’Connell), for support.
In the story of “The Penguin“, we gradually understand more about the character Francis, even though she has a minor part in the narrative. However, despite her limited screen time, actress Katie O’Connell delivers an impactful performance that greatly contributes to our understanding of Oz’s personality. I recently had the opportunity to chat with Katie at New York Comic Con, where I asked her about the influences behind her portrayal. Interestingly, there are some parallels between Francis and Livia Soprano from “The Sopranos“, but for this role, O’Connell drew inspiration from a different fictional mother figure instead.
The Penguin’s Deirdre O’Connell interview
O’Connell revealed that she drew inspiration from her deceased friend and guide, the renowned actress Geraldine Page, during her role in “The Penguin“. Specifically, her portrayal in the 1984 crime film “The Pope of Greenwich Village” served as a source of inspiration. A particular scene resonated with her deeply while filming “The Penguin“, which she described as a significant guidepost for her acting process.
At one point she says — she’s a cop’s mom so she’s not a gangster’s mom but she’s in a gangster’s world — she’s talking to these cops after her kid’s dead and she says something like, ‘My son was as strong as a bar of steel and he didn’t get it from his father.’
Watch our conversation with O’Connell on our TikTok page here.
The movie titled “The Pope of Greenwich Village” was directed by Stuart Rosenberg and featured Mickey Rourke, Eric Roberts, Daryl Hannah, Jack Kehoe, and others including Page. This film centers around two cousins who, in a bid to amass wealth, commit a robbery unknowingly targeting a formidable mobster. Notably, Page’s portrayal of Mrs. Ritter earned her an Academy Award nomination.
In contrast to Livia from The Sopranos, O’Connell highlighted a striking characteristic of Francis: she doesn’t want anyone to feel compassionate towards her. The actress revealed that she resisted portraying a character seeking pity, as she felt it was inconsistent with how she believed the character would act.
O’Connell was aware of possible similarities to the ‘Sopranos’ character, especially following the release of HBO’s documentary ‘Wise Guy: David Chase and the Sopranos’. She pondered, “‘Did I mimic that?'” O’Connell reminisced, eventually understanding that she was aiming for Mrs. Ritter instead.
With only three episodes remaining in the series ‘The Penguin’, we’re confident that Francis will make another appearance as the story reaches its conclusion. Don’t forget to tune in for episode six, “Gold Summit”, airing this Sunday, October 27th on HBO and Max. Keep an eye out for our review of the episode right here at ‘Winter is Coming’, so don’t forget to check back with us!
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2024-10-25 18:41